MO - Ralph Yarl, 16, shot twice for ringing the doorbell at the wrong house by mistake, Kansas City, Apr 2023 *arrest*

[Izzylizzy]

It wouldn't surprise me if the judge gave Lester house arrest with the same/similar conditions he had while out on bond.
What would surprise me is if he got time incarcerated.

"During the hearing, Judge Angles added several additional conditions to Lester's bond, including that he cannot leave the state of Missouri without permission from his bond supervisor and must surrender his passport and concealed carry permit.

Other conditions of his bond include supervision with Midwest ADP, monitoring of his cell phone, inability to possess weapons of any type and not having direct or indirect contact with Yarl or his family."


cont:
https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/ral...ster-pleads-not-guilty-in-arraignment-hearing

 

[MrsWatson]

It wouldn't surprise me if the judge gave Lester house arrest with the same/similar conditions he had while out on bond.
What would surprise me is if he got time incarcerated.

Same. I don't necessarily agree with that, it hardly seems like punishment. But what do you do with someone his age who commits a crime like this and then experiences cognitive decline?

 

[Izzylizzy]

Same. I don't necessarily agree with that, it hardly seems like punishment. But what do you do with someone his age how commits a crime like this and then experiences cognitive decline?

Yep, and I think the cost of housing him with whatever needs he has would be an extra expense for the state.
I feel that the judge has to do something to hold Lester accountable.
The state recommends 5 yrs.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Yet the state recommends 5 yrs for Lester so with all the info they have on his physical/mental condition they obviously don't believe it would hinder incarcerating him for years.
The Yurl family agreed to the plea deal but I don't know if it stops there and they have no input on the judge's sentencing decision.

 

[Trino]

Yet the state recommends 5 yrs for Lester so with all the info they have on his physical/mental condition they obviously don't believe it would hinder incarcerating him for years.
The Yurl family agreed to the plea deal but I don't know if it stops there and they have no input on the judge's sentencing decision.

I just hate to see age used. And, he was competent to stand trial. My "take" is to lock him up for a time - maybe 8-10 months - to make sure he realizes what he did, then put him on home confinement.

 

[Aurora90]

He (Ralph) doesn’t like that you can Google him and see him in that sense. He wants to be seen for his music, he wants to be seen for what he can do in the STEM world, and what he can do to help others. But when you Google him you see '86-year-old man shoots Black teenager' and that’s the first thing you will see. That has tainted him so much and I think it will take decades to go away."

Canada has rules regarding publication especially when it comes to minors and I think it’s for exactly this reason.

Sometimes it can be a bit of a frustration when you wanna know more information. But when you hear about things like this being said by such a young kid, you realize that sometimes it’s good not to know.

Sometimes we don’t need to.

 

[mickey2942]

I just hate to see age used. And, he was competent to stand trial. My "take" is to lock him up for a time - maybe 8-10 months - to make sure he realizes what he did, then put him on home confinement.

If he has dementia now, he wouldn't even understand what was happening.

I would like to see skin color taken out of the entire legal process and news articles. It doesn't have relevance, as in this case, there was no evidence of a hate crime. So why is race even mentioned?!

 

[Aurora90]

If he has dementia now, he wouldn't even understand what was happening.

I would like to see skin color taken out of the entire legal process and news articles. It doesn't have relevance, as in this case, there was no evidence of a hate crime. So why is race even mentioned?!

With all due respect racial bias may have had a hand in this case but we can’t say for certain.

It’s also important to recognize that there is a difference between racial bias and evidence of a hate crime.

One is significantly harder to prove in court, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

 

[airportwoman]

It sounds like this man needs to be in a secure facility for his own safety!

 

[MrsWatson]

If he has dementia now, he wouldn't even understand what was happening.

I would like to see skin color taken out of the entire legal process and news articles. It doesn't have relevance, as in this case, there was no evidence of a hate crime. So why is race even mentioned?!

BBM
With all due respect, race was certainly an element of this crime. Personally, I was disappointed it wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime.

Lester's own family knew he was a racist.

The 28-year-old grandson also claimed Mr Lester used to make disparaging comments about Black people, gay people, and immigrants – and kept a large number of firearms in his home, including rifles and handguns.

He said that the family is “disgusted” by the 84-year-old’s shooting of the Black teenager.

“Myself and my family stand with Ralph Yarl and seeking justice. This is a horrible tragedy, it never should have happened,” he said.

Andrew Lester’s grandson reveals history of racist comments and ‘crazy’ conspiracy

Andrew Lester’s grandson claims his grandfather embraced right-wing conspiracy theories

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Aurora90]

BBM
With all due respect, race was certainly an element of this crime. Personally, I was disappointed it wasn't prosecuted as a hate crime.

Lester's own family knew he was a racist.

The 28-year-old grandson also claimed Mr Lester used to make disparaging comments about Black people, gay people, and immigrants – and kept a large number of firearms in his home, including rifles and handguns.

He said that the family is “disgusted” by the 84-year-old’s shooting of the Black teenager.

“Myself and my family stand with Ralph Yarl and seeking justice. This is a horrible tragedy, it never should have happened,” he said.

Andrew Lester’s grandson reveals history of racist comments and ‘crazy’ conspiracy

Andrew Lester’s grandson claims his grandfather embraced right-wing conspiracy theories

www.independent.co.uk

Thank you for sharing this. I thought I had heard something about this, but wasn’t certain.

 

[whitelilac]

Andrew Lester died today. Just saw this.

Ralph Yarl shooter Andrew Lester dies days after entering guilty plea

Lester, 86, had been scheduled to be sentenced next month after entering a guilty plea Friday to felony assault in the second degree.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

IMO:
Lester obviously wasn't faking his lack of a life-force when in court to plead guilty.

Andrew Lester dies while awaiting sentencing for second-degree assault conviction

Lester had just pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

www.wsaz.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

It's not over yet.

April 29, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The family of Ralph Yarl filed a civil lawsuit early Monday against Andrew Lester and the homeowner’s association in connection to the shooting in April 2023 that left Yarl severely injured.

In addition to criminal charges filed last year against Lester, Monday’s lawsuit states the 80-year-old and the Highland Acres Homes Association were careless and negligent in their actions leading to the April 13 shooting."

cont

Family of Ralph Yarl files civil suit against Andrew Lester, homeowners association

The family of Ralph Yarl filed a civil lawsuit early Monday against Andrew Lester and the homeowner’s association in connection to the shooting in April 2023 that left Yarl severely injured.

www.kshb.com

 

[Trino]

Andrew Lester died today. Just saw this.

Ralph Yarl shooter Andrew Lester dies days after entering guilty plea

Lester, 86, had been scheduled to be sentenced next month after entering a guilty plea Friday to felony assault in the second degree.

www.nbcnews.com

No justice. Family should sue to gain his estate.

 

[Cryptic]

No justice. Family should sue to gain his estate.

I can agree with suing the shooter, but shaking down the home owners association for settlement cash cheapens justice.

Evidently the lawsuit is based on: A. Lack of a crystal ball B. The association has an insurance policy that will offer some sort of settlement.

That aside, here is the stated "basis" for the suit:

• Failed to promulgate regulations sufficient to prevent its residents from firing a loaded weapon at a minor;
• Failed to inform its residents of its expectations involving the use of firearms on Association grounds, including homes within the boundaries of the Association;
• Allowed the existence of an atmosphere where Lester could shoot Yarl after he rang Lester’s doorbell;
• Failed to inform or educate Lester about the dangers of discharging a loaded weapon within the grounds of the association;
• Failed to render aid to Yarl after he was shot;
• “Was otherwise careless and negligent.”

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I understand the family wanting justice, but this may just hurt all of the innocent neighbors, if their insurance company cancels the policy or raises the rate.

Hopefully the victim can gain from the shooter's personal estate, IMO.

 

[Marysmith]

I can agree with suing the shooter, but shaking down the home owners association for settlement cash cheapens justice.

Evidently the lawsuit is based on: A. Lack of a crystal ball B. The association has an insurance policy that will offer some sort of settlement.

That aside, here is the stated "basis" for the suit:

• Failed to promulgate regulations sufficient to prevent its residents from firing a loaded weapon at a minor;
• Failed to inform its residents of its expectations involving the use of firearms on Association grounds, including homes within the boundaries of the Association;
• Allowed the existence of an atmosphere where Lester could shoot Yarl after he rang Lester’s doorbell;
• Failed to inform or educate Lester about the dangers of discharging a loaded weapon within the grounds of the association;
• Failed to render aid to Yarl after he was shot;
• “Was otherwise careless and negligent.”

Totally agree. It's like Athena Strand's parents suing FedEx. Doesn't matter if they have deep pockets - there was no reason not to hire the perpetrator.